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How to write a bad review
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☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer)
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Oct 04, 2011 08:27PM
I am almost done reading a book that I promised to review for the author and its awful. How do you handle this? The story drags, it's suppose to be funny and it's not. Do you think I should email the author and offer to not post a review on my blog? I am 75% done and if it weren't for promising to review it..I would have stopped long ago. Any suggestions?
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to make matters worse..all of the reviews for her book are from friends...or none at all..eek.
I've never had this happen to me, but I think the best you can do is be honest -- you're not doing the author (or anyone who buys the book) any favours by not being truthful about what didn't work for you.
thanks Tammy..i have written neg reviews before where I gave a 2..but was a least able to say something positive. This one is going to be really tough..because i do not want my followers to waste money on the book. I can see what the author is attempting, it just doesn't work for me..maybe I will just be honest. Then i will email her, and offer to not post it on B&N and Amazon, but my review will go on my blog and goodreads.
Then i will email her, and offer to not post it on B&N and Amazon, but my review will go on my blog and goodreads. I think that's a good idea, and that way you can still be true to how you felt about the book. Do you normally post your reviews on B&N and Amazon?
Tammy wrote: "Then i will email her, and offer to not post it on B&N and Amazon, but my review will go on my blog and goodreads. I think that's a good idea, and that way you can still be true to how you felt a..."
Yes Tammy, I receive ARC's and agree to post reviews on B&N, Amazon and smashwords, plus twitter, my blog, goodreads and facebook blog. In addition, I belong to clubs on B&N and if the book is good, I recommend it to them.
If you received the book directly from the author, a courtesy email would be nice, but not a requirement. This is one reason why I'm very cautious about which ARC's I accept (except Amazon Vine because Amazon is the one choosing me as a reviewer and not a publisher/author), and generally happier to get the newer releases from the library.
I do give you major brownie points for caring enough about your readers to give them your honest opinion. I've seen many reviewers that will decline to review a book they didn't care for, and while to each their own, that kind of reviewer is not helpful to me at all. Just like Klausner on Amazon, four and five stars not matter what.
Here is my review. I published it on my blog, facebook page and goodreads:A Trip to the Water’s Edge is a humorous chick-lit mystery. This is the second book in a series involving protagonist Mattie Mitchell and her faithful side kick, Clare Tibbitts. Since the author familiarizes the reader with past events, this novel can be read as a standalone. While hanging out and doing what best friends do, Mattie and Clare find themselves in the middle of trouble. They witness a murder while out hiking and someone has poisoned a guest at Autumn Leaves House. Mattie seems to have a knack for getting involved and being in the middle of things. Overall the concept of this story is good, and I can see the direction the author is taking. However, the story just didn’t do it for me. The first part of the book dragged and while parts were funny, it didn’t have me turning the pages. The flow just wasn’t there and the suspense didn’t build quickly enough. The cover of the book doesn’t tie in with the story and I feel it will confuse the reader. The cover makes me think of a fantasy or magic genre. I would have loved to have seen an animated book cover depicting Mattie and Clare trying to cook in the kitchen or hiding behind a tree. The last part of the story picked up speed and I found myself enjoying it. Mattie and Clare are likable characters and some of their interactions made me chuckle. It will be interesting to see how Berger’s writing develops in the next book of this series.
I gave this book 2 coffee cups out of 5.
http://kimbathecaffeinatedbookreviewe...
I did send an email, and did state that if they still wanted me too, I would post on Amazon, B&N and Smashwords. At this time i have not received a response.
Mod
As Tammy said, you don't want the author or her fans to feel as if this effort is just fine & dandy. She can probably do better - and a not-so-glowing review might encourage her to take more care on her next work.
like i said the idea was good and probably would have made a better novella. Parts of it were awkward and forced rather then flowing. I am glad since she is not an awful writer...just maybe not an exciting one.
It is a tricky business to write a negative review.
Mod
I agree as well -- you're review actually sounded positive in tone to me. You set out what you didn't like, but also said you liked the ending and that you'd be interested in seeing how the writing develops. No one should be unhappy with what you've written. :)
The author has potential, it just hasn't been reached yet, sadly the book wasn't good until the last 2 chapters. I received no response from the email I sent. I feel good about my review. I highlighted what was good, what was bad and why it didn't work for me.
thanks for all your feed back. I didn't want to trash the author, but I didn't want to praise her for mediocre work either. I feel I reached a happy medium.
My scale from 1 to 5..sets a 2 at flawed,see review, so I feel like i was true to my followers.
